It’s a combination of things:
Coaching- the team have a template that they are all working on that provides clarity and they all know what’s expected of them.
Recruitment- Temple had an advantage with being involved with the players in the Academy so he had already thought about who he wanted to get that we didn’t already have that would fill the gaps. And you would have to say the overseas players have been solid to excellent in all their games.
Fitness and technique has improved season on season as the players have adapted to being professional players. Now just to increase the length of the season so they can be full time year round.
Experience- kudos to the Nix owners that have stuck by the players to be able to benefit from the consistency being able to see their growth- McMeeken looked confident out there last night, and she hasn’t always been that way and was playing left side when I think all her previous games in last couple of seasons were on the right. Taylor, Barry, VanDer Meer, Knott, Edwards, Foster, Wisnewski growing as a group and are still young with a good amount of growth potential.
Last couple of seasons were super frustrating as it took half the season for them to look like a team that knew how to play together. This season who knows where we will end up. We could win it- depending on injuries I think is the biggest hurdle, and maybe City and Sydney FC have a bit higher level depth. But it’s possible. Maybe we are our own version of Leicester. 🤞